(CNN) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry may be the leader in national polls in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, but a new survey indicates that in New Hampshire, Mitt Romney's still way ahead of the rest of the pack.

According to a Suffolk University/7 News poll released Wednesday night, 41 percent of likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters say they support Romney. The survey indicates that Romney, the former governor of neighboring Massachusetts who's making his second bid for president, has a 27 point lead over his nearest competitor in the state that holds the first primary in the race for the White House.
In second place at 14 percent is Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who's making his third bid for the presidency, followed by former Utah Gov. and former U.S. Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman at 10 percent.

According to the poll, Perry's at eight percent, followed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin at six percent. The GOP's 2008 vice presidential nominee has flirted with a bid for the nomination, but hasn't taken any concrete steps to start up a campaign. The survey indicates that Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota is at five percent, with former House Speaker Newt Gingrich at four percent, and everyone else in the lower single digits. Eleven percent of likely GOP primary voters in the Granite State were undecided.

The survey indicates Romney's gained five points from June, with Huntsman and Paul each increasing six points.

"Mitt Romney is saying 'get out of my back yard' and making New Hampshire his strong firewall despite showing some weakness in the other states' early primaries," says David Paleologos, director of Suffolk University's Political Research Center. "The anti-Romney candidate at this point could be either Ron Paul, who has polled consistently over the past year, or Jon Huntsman, whose numbers are really growing in the Granite State."

Romney has made a few appearances in Iowa this year, but has spent much more in New Hampshire. Huntsman appears to be putting all his chips into a strong showing in the Granite State, which comes second after Iowa in the primary and caucus calendar.

The Suffolk University/7 News poll was conducted September 18-20, with 400 likely New Hampshire GOP primary voters questioned by telephone.

soundoff(80 Responses)

GI Joe

I don't believe this country will every again elect a heartless Texas Governor as a president of our country. We have enough trouble, and don't need the psychotic attitude of the likes of Perry sitting in our Nations Capital.

Fascism is not what this country needs - nor is the narcissistic attitude of Perry.

September 21, 2011 11:49 pm at 11:49 pm |

ItzDaTruth

Were these 400 Registered Repuiblican "likely primary voters"? If so, all this poll shows is that Ron Paul is now in 2nd place in the hearts of establishment GOP types in the "Live Free or Die State". New Hampshire has an open primary, and with Democrats and Independents having no other anti-war alternative, Ron Paul is going to win BIG come February.

Remember, it was the anti-war vote (if that makes any sense) that gave NH to McCain in '08.

Ron Paul 2012

September 22, 2011 12:23 am at 12:23 am |

zach

Nice work Ron!

September 22, 2011 12:33 am at 12:33 am |

Jim McClarin

If Paul and Huntsman both gained six points, how can David Paleologos say Paul has "polled consistently" while Huntsman's " numbers are really growing" in New Hampshire? Sounds like somebody's rooting for Huntsman.

September 22, 2011 12:45 am at 12:45 am |

Zak

That's good news. Romney is really the only adult among the Republican front runners.

Nice to see Ron Paul at 2nd and CNN actually acknowledging it. Ron Paul dominates in just about every online poll and every debate poll. The same people who say polls don't matter much are the same who use them to declare Perry and Romney the front-runners and ignore everyone else. Look into Ron Paul. He's the only palatable option in the GOP, and his policies make you feel like GOP doesn't have to be a dirty word. Ron Paul 2012!

September 22, 2011 01:53 am at 1:53 am |

Peggy Munro

Hope this trend continues.

September 22, 2011 02:06 am at 2:06 am |

iizthatiiz

for as much money and time that Romney has spent in NH, I'd hardly call 41% overwhelming. Wait til others campaign in NH. There is still lots and lots of campaign time left.

September 22, 2011 02:13 am at 2:13 am |

Don

To those leaning toward Perry and arguing that he has a better jobs record than Romney because of some statistic you point to,

Nice try, but you don't understand. People don't just want a McDonald's job, like Texas offers. They want a high paying job like Mass. offers.

Sorry to burst your bubble, but if you add up the yearly incomes of the jobs Romney created in Massachussets against the yearly incomes of the jobs created in Texas, Romney has a better record in jobs than your darling Texas.

Another thing you're forgetting is Romney also saved Rick Perry's job (which was another high paying job) when Perry almost lost during a tough election year while Romney was the head of the RGA. So if you're saying Perry created all those jobs and not Texas than Romney created Perry's job which logically follows that Romney created all those Texas jobs.

While your boy Perry is eating up the media spotlight and dining with Murdoch hoping for a job on Fox when this current gig doesn't pan out, Romney is busy running for President. Look at the firewall Romney put together in New Hampshire. Romney is 27 percent higher than the next guy, and guess who the next guy is, not your darling Perry. Perry is at 8 percent in fourth place against Romney's 41 percent. In South Carolina, that was supposed to be a sure thing for Perry, is not a sure thing. Perry is statistically tied with Romney. All Romney has to do is jump into the divided field in Iowa and seal it his and the race is over. Instead of telling us how great Perry will be against Obama (even though Perry polls badly with independants), please tell your candidate to start running a real campaign so we can beat Obama in 2012.

Go Mitt Go!!!

September 22, 2011 03:24 am at 3:24 am |

Jim

Well glory be........you finally mentioned Ron Paul.

September 22, 2011 05:08 am at 5:08 am |

NATHAN WIMBERLY

So what? The teabaggers have a plan for Romney to repeat 2008 and they own the GOBP.

September 22, 2011 05:43 am at 5:43 am |

Marie MD

It's amazing how even the teapublikan voters flip flop with their candidates. Of course, there not one who can spit shine Obama's shoes, but let's see who they come up with. The flake, the milionaire secessionist, the flip flopper and the others really don't count. And yes, I have left the trailer trash from Wasilla out of the equation because she is a nobody.

September 22, 2011 06:22 am at 6:22 am |

Drew Hannush

Can we just see the poll, instead of reading your opinion of it? Some of us are interested in the below five percenters.

September 22, 2011 07:19 am at 7:19 am |

S.B. Stein E.B. NJ

Romney is doing so well in New Hampshire because it is his backyard. I don't know how well he'd do in other places. I think all of New England/Northeast area is fairly safe for Romney. The problem is that I don't think that the rest of the country is all that into him. Perry is the new kid on the scene and has tea people support because he speaks their language. I don't think that Perry really understands much of how Washington gets things done enough to be effective; Romney could do only a marginally better job.

September 22, 2011 07:21 am at 7:21 am |

PJ

America should not be fooled by the NH Poll. Remember NH is one of the many States Romney calls home and there is also a major cultural divide between NH and Perry. Nevertheless, Romney continues to be the lessor of two evils in NH. He is still one of the most despised Politicians in his "other" home State – Massachusetts. Other than Romneycare which Ted Kennedy helped write for him, he accomplished nothing in Massachusetts. He is a Camellion.who will say and be whatever you want him to be.

September 22, 2011 07:31 am at 7:31 am |

FM

This goes to show that people are interested in a person they know and not what a person stands for! It is the huge mistake, and may produce in the end the incompetent candidate!

September 22, 2011 07:41 am at 7:41 am |

Wire Palladin, S. F.

Both Romney and Perry have thrown America under the bus with their ill thought out comments about Israel. Nether deserve consideration for teabagger president.

September 22, 2011 07:53 am at 7:53 am |

Eric

He should do well in NH, as he's been vacationing there for decades. He once even drove up there with the family dog caged on the roof of his station wagon. Many give him hell for that, but I'll give him credit that he hadn't seemed to do it twice.

September 22, 2011 08:02 am at 8:02 am |

The Elephant in The Room

He wants to be the TOP government leader in the country so he obviously feels that GOVERNMENT can do something useful.

What has he done that is useful?

a.) Use borrowed money to raid companies, fire workers / outsource jobs and pocket personal wealth? NO
b) "Create Jobs" as a governor? NO. Governors only steal jobs from other jurisdictions and 47 other governors were better at it than him.
c) Implement, mandated, universal healthcare? YES. But Romney runs away from this as much as he can because he can`t get nominated by the rightwing on this accomplishment. Besides, it doesn`t differentiate him from Obama.

What else would he do? CUT TAXES! Well, we have 10 years+ of experience with that experiment; we know that doesn`t work.

What else would Willard do? CUT REGULATION ! You mean like Oil drilling requirements in the Gulf of Mexico? Mine safety in West Virginia? Our refrigerated food truck regulations across the US? A story on NBC reported that to make MORE profit, corporations are shipping "refrigerated food" in 60 degree [and higher] trucks. I`ll bet good ole "businessman" Romney supports that.

Look folks, there isn`t a Republican out there with a solution that is any different than what they`ve already tried and failed at. Ride it out with Obama until 2016. All this thrashing around only adds inefficiency. The Prez inherieted a big mess with TOTAL US Debt @ 375% of GDP – the python has to digest that pig. It will take time and changing Presidents won`t help.

September 22, 2011 08:29 am at 8:29 am |

Philojazz

When I first read, "Mitt Romney is saying 'get out of my back yard' and making New Hampshire his strong FIREWALL despite showing some weakness in the other states' early primaries", I thought it said FAREWELL. Hmmm...wishful thinking, ESP, or what?

September 22, 2011 08:34 am at 8:34 am |

Buster Bloodvessel

He's unelectable.

September 22, 2011 08:36 am at 8:36 am |

diridi

I told long time ago, this dude will be front-runner in GOP, other Texas dude is a silly idiot.....o.k, He has some positive points and he needs to be ignore this Health Care Reform, let it stay as it is.....I advise is he needs stay at low profile.....that's it. Look, Bank rates on CDs are so low, while Banks are robbing this nation, with Greed.....some one needs to focus on these. Dodd Frank is OK, but needs to make stringent derivatives....o.k, Nation needs to pour mass Energy Efficient cars on Roads at cheaper prices with solid "Warranties". Ignore Ford, and GM, they are opening in India, and China, they need to come to USA for manufacturing, nation needs Agriculture, it is ignored...totally...o.k,